Snow (Ice) Days

Your Owen County Community Foundation

Mark Rogers, Executive Director

There’s nothing like a snow day (or two or three) to make you feel young again. The radio roll-call of schools and business closings goes in the ears of a graying old guy but hits the brain of an eight-year-old. The more schools that are called off, the bigger the snow emergency and the less likely I’ll have to go to school – oops, I mean work.

As a kid, the big decision about calling off school was made in some mysterious star chamber, but once they called it – NO SCHOOL! Now, as socalled adults, we have to make that snow cancellation call ourselves, so when things get as bad as they were last Tuesday and Wednesday, I called it – NO WORK!

I remember when the “No School” call came across the radio in my youth, the house would erupt. Oh sure, I’d hear some whining from my prissy sisters about not wanting to miss some test they were “excited” about, but none of that for me. School clothes shed in a flash, replaced with enough layers against the cold to satisfy Mom, and it was out the door for the sled and the nearest hill.

Now things are a little different. The “No Work” call requires some phone calls to reschedule appointments, a little sidewalk maintenance (although, with the ice last week there was nothing to be done – much more to my liking), the extra pot of coffee, and a nice quiet moment to reassure yourself you’re really not going to be a contributing member of society for a day.

Then you get to watch the weather unfold.

When we lost our electricity at two different times during our snow days, the mood shifted to the “almost an adventure” mode. During these times, we move to the room with the wood stove which also happens to have the best nature views of the house. We refer to this corner room just off the kitchen as the Room of Requirement (Thanks, J.K and Harry).

Whatever one requires during snow days can be found in, where else but, the Room of Requirement. There’s Yahtzee and Scrabble, a small rack of current books and magazines, and a book of good crossword puzzles. Nature shows, put on by our neighbors the Fat Lazy Rabbit Family, the sneaky coyotes, and, of course, the white tails, occur without announcement throughout the day.

The major requirements are met by the stove. Heat for one is pretty handy, but cooking on the old wood stove really fits well the “almost an adventure” mode. One of the highlights of this adventure was digging out my camping coffee percolator and brewing up a strong cuppa Joe on the stovetop. Best coffee I’ve had in years.

With no furnace overnight we even brought the air mattress out so we could sleep near the stove. Pretty cozy until about 4:00 a.m. when the slow leak in the mattress leaves the wife and I enclosed in an inflatable cocoon. Claustrophobia is a nasty alarm clock.

Alas, all of the snow day fun starts to wear off after a couple of days and is replaced with the “almost a panic” mode of “are we ever going to get to town again, ever?” But the world does open again. The next day there is no excuse for a “No Work” day and it’s back to contributing to society.

Adult snow days are rare, but when they arrive they’re as pleasing to this graying old guy as they were to the eight-year-old. Quiet days with time to reflect on our families, our homes, and the community that all help to shelter us from the cold.

I’d wish for more winter respites but the OVHS class of 2011 won’t graduate until August at this rate and I think they have places to go and people to see. Better get back to work and school.

If you would like to know more about how to support your home place, give me a call at 829-1725, e-mail me at mark@owencountycf.org, visit us online at www.owencountycf.org, or stop by and visit in person at 201 West Morgan Street in Spencer (our office is on the second floor of the Owen County State Bank building).

Your Owen County Community Foundation is committed to helping our communities become better places to live, grow, and work. We value the beauty of Owen County – even under ice.